 "Sunil Gavaskar slammed foreign critics for commenting on Shreyas Iyer's snub. Image: PTI")
India’s cricket team selection for the Asia Cup 2025 has started a big debate. The main focus is on Shreyas Iyer , who has been left out of the team despite solid white-ball performances in recent months. The middle-order batter recently led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 final and earlier won the trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Iyer has not played a T20I for India since 2023, but many expected him to return after what he achieved in the past couple of years. Ajit Agarkar, who heads the BCCI selection committee, is facing most of the criticism. Many have questioned the decision, including former Indian and foreign players. This has not gone down well with ex-India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who gave a strong response in his column.
Gavaskar slams foreign players
“What is baffling is foreigners who have zero stake in Indian cricket, and much less knowledge about it, wading into the debate and adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players and however many times they may have been to India, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Sportstar.
“They should focus on their country’s cricket and let us Indians worry about our cricket. Amazingly, when their country’s teams are selected, there’s hardly anything, if ever, heard from them about the selection. It’s almost as if the selection is perfect and they have no comments to make. So, why butt your nose into the selection of the Indian team? Have you ever heard Indian ex-cricketers talk about the selection of other countries’ teams? No, we mind our own business, and seriously couldn’t be bothered by who they choose or who they don’t select,” he added.
Gavaskar was apparently referring to former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin and ex-South Africa batter AB de Villiers. Both had expressed surprise at Iyer’s omission from the Asia Cup squad. He slammed these players for commenting on Indian cricketing affairs, and blamed the country’s media for going to them and asking for reactions.
“To an extent, the Indian media is also responsible, as they go to overseas cricketers and ask them about Indian cricket. How often, on overseas tours, do we see members of the Indian media chasing former players from the host country – players whom even their own nation has almost forgotten – for an interview? It’s almost as if validation about Indian cricket and its cricketers has to be obtained from overseas players,” he said.